1999

Bernard S. “Bernie” Lee, who served as president and CEO of the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) for 21 years until his retirement in 1999, has died, according to the Gas Technology Institute. Lee was responsible for the development of various synthetic fuels programs involving coal, oil shale and liquid hydrocarbons and was a recognized expert on energy, particularly fossil fuel conversion technologies. In the past four years Lee had been promoting the development of massive electricity storage. In addition to serving on IGT’s board of trustees and executive committee, Lee also served on the boards of National Fuel Gas Co., NUI Corp. and Peerless Manufacturing Co.

Weak national demand led all but a handful of companies to see natural gas marketing declines during the second quarter as the total volume sold in North America fell 9% — almost 11 Bcf/d — according to NGI’s 2Q2009 Top North American Gas Marketers Ranking. read more

Despite a decline in the survey’s top spot, overall natural gas marketing was up 6.2% year over year. read more

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has named Executive Vice President Kimberly Harris, 46, as the utility’s new president. Harris joined PSE in 1999 and has held several leadership positions during the past 11 years — most recently serving as executive vice president and chief resource officer, responsible for all of PSE’s energy resources, including project development and contract management, energy efficiency services and federal government relations. Prior to that she was a senior vice president for regulatory policy and energy efficiency. Harris also has been PSE’s vice president of regulatory and government affairs, associate general counsel and director of load resource strategies.

Marketers reported an overall 4Q2009 decrease of less than 1% from the previous year’s period, but a flood of of production from shale plays could influence the market’s next move. read more

Drilling will drop by 41% across western Canada this year to the lowest level since 1999 as low natural gas prices pinch exploration and development budgets, predict service and supply contractors.

Drilling will drop by 41% across western Canada this year to the lowest level since 1999 as low natural gas prices pinch exploration and development budgets, predict service and supply contractors.

Source: Quarterly financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or if necessary, statements signed by company officials and provided to NGI.

For the first time since 1999, electric, gas and water utilities received as many credit rating upgrades as downgrades from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) in 2006. S&P recorded 21 upgrades and 21 downgrades last year, “a stark contrast with recent years, when downside rating actions dominated.”